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Mangrove forests provide a wealth of benefits for both people and nature. They:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mangroves are also powerful carbon sinks:<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite their importance, 50% of the world\u2019s mangroves have disappeared in the past half-century<\/strong><\/a>, victims of rising sea levels, pollution, demand for timber, and clearing by locals and coastal developers alike.<\/p>\n There\u2019s good news, though: Mangrove restoration is relatively easy, fast and successful. WWF\u2019s mangrove restoration projects have demonstrated high success rates, with some initiatives reporting a 62.5% to 82% success rate<\/strong> in areas like Colombia by focusing on native species and engaging local communities.<\/p>\n This article features 5 ways WWF is working to protect, restore and conserve some of the world\u2019s most threatened mangrove habitats.<\/p>\n Mangrove nursery<\/p>\n<\/div>\n WWF teamed up with Conservation International, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and The Nature Conservancy to form the Global Mangrove Alliance<\/a> with the goals:<\/p>\n \u201cMangroves are a powerful tool that nature has provided us, but we\u2019re not doing enough, fast enough, to protect them,\u201d said Lauren Spurrier, managing director of oceans for WWF.<\/p>\n Group of happy volunteers with tree seedlings, Volunteer helpers planting trees in mangrove forest for environmental protection and ecology, reduce global warming, Charity work<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The alliance connects funders, experts, policymakers and local communities to accelerate a comprehensive, coordinated, global approach to mangrove conservation and restoration at a scale.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt will take concerted action by many players to reverse declines and bring back what we\u2019ve lost,\u201d Spurrier said. \u201cThere is no time to duplicate efforts and waste resources. Bringing this work together through an alliance, allows us to focus our organizations in areas where we know we can have maximum impact.\u201d<\/p>\n The Global Mangrove Alliance seeks to catalyze $10 billion in investments to improve the resilience of local coastal communities and improve the wellbeing of 10 million people worldwide.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Public-Private-People Partnerships to Save Coastal Kenya Forests\u00a0<\/a> supports sustainable management and conservation of 30,000 hectares of critical mangrove and terrestrial forest ecosystems. The project focuses on mitigating environmental impacts of large-scale economic development by promoting energy and water efficiency while reducing their ecological footprint. It also builds capacity of local communities, government agencies, and the private sector to ensure effective, long-term ecosystem management\u200b.<\/p>\n Mangroves, Kenya<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One of the key drivers of coastal forest degradation is the lack of information on mangrove ecosystem benefits. <\/strong>Mangroves are essential nesting grounds for fish\u2014a key source of food. They also act to safeguard coastlines against typhoons.<\/p>\n WWF-Kenya\u2019s Public-Private-People Partnerships to Save Coastal Kenya Forests Project focuses on:<\/p>\n This initiative is vital to enhance the resilience of Kenya<\/a>\u2018s mangroves, which are crucial for biodiversity and coastal protection.<\/p>\n WWF collaborates with key partners to integrate local knowledge with advanced environmental safeguards. The project also supports global conservation objectives like the Aichi Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals, by embedding ecosystem values into regional policies and development plans, ensuring these ecosystems are preserved for future generations\u200b.<\/p>\n Young mangrove saplings<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The\u00a0Climate-Smart Mangrove Tool\u00a0<\/a>is a key part of WWF\u2019s global strategy to bolster mangrove restoration and protection efforts in response to climate change.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Climate-Smart Mangrove Tool\u00a0is an advanced predictive tool that provides local communities a step-by-step process for assessing climate vulnerability and selecting climate-smart management actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n The innovative decision-support tool combines satellite data, climate models, and local knowledge to help conservation practitioners:<\/p>\n The Climate-Smart Mangrove Tool, developed by WWF in partnership with the University of Queensland,\u00a0<\/strong>has been applied in Colombia, Madagascar<\/a>, Fiji, and Mexico.<\/p>\n Pinpointing the most viable areas for restoration and conservation, the tool enhances the resilience of vital mangrove ecosystems, essential for preserving biodiversity and supporting coastal communities. The ability to predict and plan for future environmental changes makes the Climate-Smart Mangrove Tool<\/a> an invaluable resource in the global fight against climate change, supporting both ecological and human coastal resilience\u200b.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ManglarIA<\/a>, supported by WWF and Google.org, uses advanced technologies (LIDAR-equipped drones, eDNA sensors, and automated weather stations) on the Pacific and Gulf coasts of Mexico, particularly within biosphere reserves like Marismas Nacionales, to monitor the health of mangrove ecosystems with unprecedented precision.<\/p>\n The project utilizes AI to analyze vast datasets, predicting the impacts of climate change on these critical ecosystems. This data-driven approach is essential for guiding effective restoration efforts.<\/p>\n In Mexico, WWF is working to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems because of their importance to biodiversity and the contributions they make to local livelihoods and economies<\/strong>. Primary threats to Mexican\u00a0mangroves include coastal development and climate change. More frequent hurricanes, changing rainfall, and sea level rise all can harm these complex ecosystems and the carbon they store.<\/p>\n By offering detailed insights into how mangroves respond to environmental stresses, ManglarIA (Spanish for \u201cAI for Mangroves\u201d) ensures that local conservation strategies are both impactful and sustainable.<\/p>\n The project also plays a vital role in supporting the resilience of local communities who rely on healthy mangrove ecosystems for their livelihoods. Visit one such community with Nat Hab\u2019s Great Gray Whales of Baja<\/a> itinerary, when we explore El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve.<\/p>\n Two percent of the world\u2019s mangroves are found in Madagascar, and 20% of these have been deforested<\/strong> for timber, charcoal production, and agricultural expansion.<\/p>\n In the Nat Hab film below, Expedition Leader Rija Ratotonirinia shares, \u201cThe main threat for the animals, for biodiversity in Madagascar, is habitat loss. 90% of our forest is gone due to slash and burn. Slash and burn agriculture is still one of our traditional ways of growing rice.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\n
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<\/p>\nWhy do we need mangrove restoration?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n1. Co-Founding the Global Mangrove Alliance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Partnerships to Save Coastal Kenya Forests\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n3. The Climate-Smart Mangrove Tool\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n4. ManglarIA \u2013 AI for Mangroves<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n5. Community-Based Conservation in Madagascar\u2019s Mangroves<\/strong><\/h2>\n